Tips when choosing driver education

DENVER, September 12- According to a recent study released by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs reduce, by an average of 11 percent, the incidence of fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers. However, GDL restrictions for new drivers are not the only step parents should take as teens get behind the wheel for the first time.

"Just like anything, the more you practice driving, the better you become at it," says Wave Dreher, traffic safety specialist with AAA Colorado. “Parents should make it a priority to enroll their teen driver in a licensed driving school. Often times it can make a huge difference in increasing safety on the road for teen drivers."

In Colorado, teenage drivers can receive a driver’s permit when they turn 15 if they have completed a state-approved driver education program. If not, they get their license at age 16. That is often an incentive for teen drivers to enroll. But how should parents choose a driver education school? Following are tips from AAA Colorado:

• Visit licensed schools in your area and observe the instructors and check out the vehicles and training materials.
• Ensure the facility is fully licensed and meets all state instructional standards.
• Ask for a reference list so you can get a customer’s point of view.
• Consult the local Better Business Bureau to find out if there complaints about the facility.
• Check out policies for refunds, make-up sessions and contracts.
• Ask if they use instructional routes.
• Ask if they provide feedback to you about your teen’s progress.
• Find out if they offer extra practice sessions.

In an effort to increase teen driver safety, AAA Colorado is currently conducting an online teen driver survey that focuses on distracted driving activities such as text messaging and talking on a cell phone. As an incentive to take the survey, teen drivers can register to win a new Dell laptop or win discount coupons for pizza if they take the survey at www.aaa.com/teens. The results of the teen driver survey will be released this fall.

AAA Colorado has more than 500,000 members in Colorado and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com.

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